Blogs from Pierre, South Dakota, United States, North America

July 12-14 It’s been frustrating to blog last week without WiFi and very little cell signal. And it doesn’t seem to be getting better but worse. I’m making notes and will post when I can upload pictures and text. This morning we got up and headed northwest again. We were hoping for better roads but it was only marginally better. We hit a bridge seam that was bad and noticed a shimmy had developed in the truck. It is very difficult to tell if it’s the road or the truck. If we could find a smooth road we might know but that’s asking the impossible. We arrived at Oahe Dam Downstream campground near Pierre SD by mid afternoon. It was hot but not as bad as Iowa. We had to get water as we try not ... read more

According to MapQuest, the drive from General Sibley Park in Bismarck ND to Farm Island Recreation Area in Pierre SD would be a little over 200 miles and would take about 3 ½ hours. I took I-94 east to its junction with US 83 south and traversed rolling hills covered by seemingly endless grassy plains. The fields of grazing cattle and bales of hay awaiting relocation were enjoyable and relaxing, and the countryside was sprinkled with pockets of trees along streambeds and stock tanks frequented by both thirsty livestock and wild game. I arrived in Pierre without incident. My first tourist stop in Pierre was the South Dakota State Capitol. There are no guided tours (except by reservation), but an excellent self-guided booklet provides as much or more information than I or the average tourist needs. ... read more

My dad and I have just returned to our room at the Pierre Ramkota Hotel after splitting a 24-ounce porterhouse at the Cattleman’s Club. I’d never eaten a porterhouse. I hope to eat many in the future. Fred got the prime rib – The Cattleman’s Club only offers beef and a shrimp – and, like my dad, washed his cut down with a beer. I ordered a strawberry daiquiri. When we arrived at 5:45 beefeaters had filled every chair at the Cattleman’s Club. Fully filled. These were big men (and they were mostly men) red faced and serious – the kind who sweat when they eat. In short, they were the kind who appreciate prime beef. The beefeaters didn’t seem to notice the river, or what is confusingly called “Lake Sharpe” outside the window. I had ... read more

Day 2: Fort Pierre National Grasslands, 20 miles south of Ft. Pierre, South Dakota As previously mentioned, Sophie (le dog) and I had, in just 24 hours gone from the city of big shoulders to the middle of South Dakota. I had made a good dinner, consisting of Zataran’s cheddar rice, dried Trader Joe lentils, and peanuts, drizzled with hot sauce. Excellent, and really allowed me to think seriously about lying down on a grassy bed. I had repacked the truck twice, taking a general inventory and bringing some needed items closer to the back. I now had enough room to work of the back tailgate. One item about the west is how quickly the weather can changed. The hot sun and dry conditions produces quick weather—I’ve seen a 30 degree change in temperature. During the ... read more

These are some of the places we visited while staying at Oahe: Oahe Chapel (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) - In 1874, Reverend Thomas L. Riggs, a Congregationalist minister and his first wife, Cornelia Margaret Foster, established the Oahe Mission to serve the Sioux Indians of central South Dakota. It was built on the site of an old Arikara Indian village called Ti Tanke Ohe, later shortened to "Oahe." The name of the mission was eventually given not only to the mission, but also to the dam and lake that now cover the site. In the beginning, a log house was the center of the mission. By 1877, the house had become too small, and the Indians agreed to help Reverend Riggs build a chapel, which was finished by September of the same ... read more

These are some photos of the RV Park where we are staying at Oahe Downriver State Park. It is one of three campgrounds located within the state park. It is campground #3 and is the smallest of the three. Since we are volunteers, we are on a site that has full hookups (electric, water and sewer). However, the only other site to have full hookups is the one which will be used by the Campground Hosts, all the other campsites have only electricity. The Campground Hosts are not here yet, but should be coming in around the middle of May. Since our electric hookup provides 50 amp service, we are able to use any and all appliances we choose at the same time - lights, heaters, washer/dryer, microwave, whatever. When there is only 30 amp service, ... read more